a peek into the heart of God

1 You are always righteous, O LORD,
when I bring a case before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all the faithless live at ease?

2 You have planted them, and they have taken root;
they grow and bear fruit.
You are always on their lips
but far from their hearts.

3 Yet you know me, O LORD;
you see me and test my thoughts about you.
Drag them off like sheep to be butchered!
Set them apart for the day of slaughter!

4 How long will the land lie parched
and the grass in every field be withered?
Because those who live in it are wicked,
the animals and birds have perished.
Moreover, the people are saying,
"He will not see what happens to us."

5 "If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in safe country,
how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

9 Has not my inheritance become to me
like a speckled bird of prey
that other birds of prey surround and attack?
Go and gather all the wild beasts;
bring them to devour.

10 Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard
and trample down my field;
they will turn my pleasant field
into a desolate wasteland.

11 It will be made a wasteland,
parched and desolate before me;
the whole land will be laid waste
because there is no one who cares.

I listened to a sermon on Jeremiah last night.

Jeremiah felt exasperated and frustrated over the incessant rebellion of the people against him and God, and complained to God. God, in His response to Jeremiah, told him that what he has seen can't be considered as anything, they are but a little bit of how God consider man to be sinful and rebellious from His perspective. God Himself has saw His own creation turned upside down, and He wants Jeremiah to gain insight to how God feels - the sense of betrayal, of being turned against.

Sometimes, as we go through certain experiences, God would also want us to experience a little bit for ourselves what God Himself went through - the pain, sufferings, pangsehed, mocked, shamed, wronged.

But you know what, Jesus Christ went through all these too..

let us look to Jesus as the author and perfector of our faith, being the example for us to follow. And in the process of going through life's experiences we too can learn to appreciate God's love, His grace and His mercy.
vin

two is better than one

Its quite a feeling to see and hear of my close friends now being attached with a girl in a relationship. One. by. One.

But then, when they are sharing about their accounts, some which were eyebrow-raising, i'm thankful to God that I can remain single for now, because I know for sure I do not have the maturity to handle a relationship, or the clarity in setting the direction of a relationship, and building on it.

Trusting in God,
vin

disappointment

I have learned to trust in God, because I come to realise and be reminded that anything I could or could not do, have or have not done, did or didn't do, would change God's purposed plan. His plan is perfect.

I was so disappointed yesterday, but when I look towards God, He is the head of the ministry. I am disappointed coz I looked at what I could do by myself, but I'm reminded that actually God is the one who is in control, so I shouldn't be that disappointed. I may not have a chance to see how other Christians are reaching people for God, but at least I am heartened to hear that there are Christians who has this desire and I trust that God would allow them to function for His glory's sake.

vin

I'm thankful for God's abudant grace. Even though I'm so sinful, but He has chosen me to be His child.

Pray that I may live a blameless, righteous and holy life, displaying Christ likeness. Put off the old self, put on the new self which will show outwardly, from inwards.

Ministry work, on the yfc side, is fine. But as much as I wish to see it grow, to be more happening (set up prayer mtgs/small grps in schs to give support to students to reach out to their friends with the gospel), I find myself not working hard enough. Sometimes I run into a block not knowing how better can I challenge my students. I pray that I'll keep this ministry desire in prayer, and work hard to contact students, meet them, follow-up, challenge them. its disheartening when students don't respond. But i know that God is in control and He will not let His ministry fail. Pray for faithfulness.

Aside from that, I thank God i've been able to juggle my ministry service with my academic studies well. At times it may leave me tired especially when rushing out of school and back again. The timetable this semester is not kind to me, but thank God for some new responsibilities in ministry. I sometimes wish I could give more to His work, but I have to do what I have in my hands well first before I'm capable of more.

Studies wise, I havent been very hardworking, quite lazy to revise my work. So I would wanna work hard in studies too, so that Lord will be pleased. I find myself enjoying writing, and reporting, for the school newspaper (more practical stuffs) rather than studying for the main modules. But I pray that I would wanna give my best in all that I've been tasked with.

Blessed CNY to all
vin

hear this

Would like to share a song which I'd recently been introduced to during a camp. Its words are so rich and its essence so meaningful & compelling. Do take time to listen & ponder upon it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnlHIz9AfnE&feature=related

O Church Arise
by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

O Church Arise
and put your armour on
Hear the call of Christ our Captain
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given
With shield of faith and belt of truth
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies
An army bold whose battle-cry is Love
Reaching out to those in darkness

Our call to war to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valour
When faced with trials on every side
We know the outcome is secure
And Christ will have the prize for which He died
An inheritance of nations

Come see the cross where love and mercy meet
As the Son of God is stricken
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet
For the Conqueror has risen
And as the stone is rolled away
And Christ emerges from the grave
This victory march continues till the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him

So Spirit come put strength in every stride
Give grace for every hurdle
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful
As saints of old still line the way
Retelling triumphs of His grace
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in glory

musings

in these few days, my ex-classmates from my secondary school have created a facebook group for the class. haaha, I've found myself laughing at the screen each time i recall something silly, either triggered by what they post on the wall, or my own recollections.

I find that my sec 1-2 years are just plain brash silliness, stopping just short of fooling around & moving towards indulging in the golden period of adolescence, while celebrating what we've uncovered along its path.

If my lower sec days were about mindlessness and carelessness, then it would very well be a breeding ground for upper sec, when we would grow wings and fly, but remain pesky, brazen and fearless. Those days were marked by plain merry go jolly around, untamed brats who fed on teachers' esteemed skins.

haaha I find myself missing my secondary school days, and on top of that, my friends. I miss wearing all white and all that nonsense. I'd better share the gospel to those who I've not shared to...
I'm reminded again lately of the fragility of life, and how real death really is. The shock to read that somemore who I know has died in a freak accident. The overriding sadness and regret that when he was still alive, I didn't tell him about life after death. *sigh hard*

indebted to non Christians the good news of Christ.
vin

on surviving a testing day

yesterday was the 3 paper onslaught. which I've fought it, and came out of it. Thank God for His guidance, and through many prayers. Thank God for allowing me to trust in Him. Yep, even though, there were questions which I didn't know how to answer, marks that were lost, I'm thankful to be able to trust in Him, coz I know that no matter what results I get, it doesn't matter, but its the response towards it, and how this experience serve to build me up on godly character. I mean, He knows what results I'll be getting already, I just need to trust Him.

I slept for like 12 hours yesterday, coz I was just so tired. haaha, like after church on Saturday, I felt so mentally burnt that I went home, skipped dinner and slept for 12 hours, even though I had known that time was precious and I could not finish my revision for the 3 papers on Monday. yep, but I'd realised that I wouldn't be productive if I'd stayed up then, nothing would have went in.

yep, exams are not over yet, even though its probably over for many fellow students now. I've got 2 more papers, the dreadful history being the final battle. haaha..

now right, I'm thinking of taking my mind off exams a while, head down to kinokuniya or borders. yeah, I think I'll do that now.

vin